Process, device and system for automatically continuously packaging products

ABSTRACT

A device and a system are disclosed that are adapted to perform a process for automatically continuously packaging products ( 4 ) through heat-sealed plastic films ( 2 ) comprising the steps of: inserting and supplying the products ( 4 ) downstream in a timed way and along a horizontal direction; applying a plastic film ( 2 ) to the products ( 4 ); heat-sealing a first end of each one of the products ( 4 ) and simultaneously advancing each one of the products ( 4 ) horizontally; heat-sealing a second end of each one of the products ( 4 ) and simultaneously advancing each one of the products ( 4 ) horizontally; and collecting and unloading the heat-sealed products ( 4 ). In particular, the device ( 1 ) is equipped with pairs of pliers ( 3, 5 ) for sealing and handling with a mutually opposite reciprocating movement.

[0001] The present invention refers to a process, to a device and to the related system for automatically continuously packaging products, particularly graphic products, through heat-sealed plastic films.

[0002] Hereinbelow the present invention will be described as applied to the packaging of graphic products such as magazines, printed matters, fascicles, newspapers, texts, books, etc. with different formats, but obviously it can be applied to any product adapted to be packaged in a heat-sealed plastic film.

[0003] Various devices are known in the art for dragging graphic products, that allow horizontally or vertically translating such products with respect to the ground. In particular, dragging and sealing pliers are known that are adapted to transversally seal heat-sealed plastic films. Such pliers are usually composed of lower striker pliers, on which a mat abuts that conveys the products around which the film to be heat-sealed has been wrapped; the lower pliers are adapted to cooperate with spring-actuated upper pliers equipped, on their lower face, with a hot wire that seals and cuts the film. When the two upper and lower pliers assume a closed working position, the upper pliers are pushed downwards and the hot wire with which they are equipped press onto the film and have as abutment the mat and the lower pliers, on which they abut for heat-sealing and cutting.

[0004] Systems for wrapping plastic films and for sealingly heat-sealing them are known for packaging graphic products. In particular, in the so-called longitudinal sealing, a hot roller is present that, by rotating on the length of overlapped film, activates its sealing in order to make a film that longitudinally wraps a product. The hot rotating roller works in cooperation with a fixed abutment blade that can be found below the films. The roller can be inserted immediately after the film bending device and can be connected thereto.

[0005] GB-A-2 233 305 discloses a method of wrapping various types of articles by means of a stretchable plastic film, and a machine for carrying out said procedure corresponding to the preambles of claims 1 and 3, respectively.

[0006] U.S Pat. No. 5 689 942 discloses a drive motor controlling apparatus for use in packaging machines.

[0007] FR-A-2 379 436 discloses a packaging machine for printed matter and its related process.

[0008] No systems and devices are instead known that allow automatically packaging and translating these types of products in a continuous way and horizontally.

[0009] Object of the present invention is solving the above prior-art problems, by providing a process, a device and a system for automatically continuously packaging products, particularly graphic products, through heat-sealed plastic films; such arrangement can be applied to rigid or flexible products with different format and overall sizes, simply and immediately adjusting the whole system according to the product to be treated.

[0010] The above and other objects and advantages of the invention, as will appear from the following description, are obtained with a process, a device and a system as respectively claimed in claims 1, 7 and 16. Preferred embodiments and non-trivial variations of the present invention are claimed in the dependent Claims.

[0011] The present invention will be better described by some preferred embodiments thereof, provided as a non-limiting example, with reference to the enclosed drawings, in which:

[0012]FIG. 1 is a side schematic view of an embodiment of the system and the device according to the present invention;

[0013]FIG. 2 is a partial schematic top view of the device and the system in FIG. 1;

[0014]FIG. 3 is a side view of the device in FIG. 1; and

[0015]FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the device in FIG. 1.

[0016] With reference to the Figures, a preferred and non-limiting embodiment of the system and the device of the present invention is shown. First of all, the system as realized is composed of several mechanical, electric, electronic and pneumatic elements inserted into a suitably cartered carrier structure, in order to prevent possible accidents and lesions.

[0017] The device 1 for automatically continuously packaging products 4 through heat-sealed plastic films 2 of the present invention will be described first, and then its application will be described to a real system for supplying, packaging, advancing and unloading products.

[0018] The device 1 of the invention comprises at least a pair of pliers 3, 5 that mutually reciprocatingly move, in parallel with the advancement direction of the products 4. Such movement occurs along respective guides 3′, 5′ and is controlled along one direction by common transmission means, and along the opposite direction through the thrust force of a pneumatic piston 6.

[0019] Each one of the pliers 3, 5 is composed of at least two mutually integral arms 7, 9 and 11, 13, where each of the pairs of arms 7, 9 and 11, 13 of each pliers 3, 5 is adapted to assume an opening position and a closing position in which the film 2 is heat-sealed and cut onto the products 4 and the products 4 themselves are dragged. Moreover, each one of the pliers 3, 5 is shaped so that, when it is in its closing position, is adapted to penetrate (as better shown in FIG. 3) into a clearance obtained inside the opening between the arms of the other one of the pliers 5, 3 that is in its opening position. This arrangement is realised by shaping the arms 7, 9 and 11, 13 of each one of the pliers 3, 5 as a chute (according to the side view in FIG. 3). Due to this shaping, the pliers 3, 5 are able to mutually exchange their position, alternatively opposed one to the other, by passing one inside the other in order to move to the two operating positions. For example, with reference to FIG. 4, when the pliers 3 are in a tightened position and are moving the product 4, the pliers 5 are in their opened position and are moving in an opposite direction with respect to the direction of the pliers 3 and the product 4 being moving, in order to go to the position in which the pliers 3 were previously located. Their shaping allows, when they are crossing one another, to make the closed pliers 3 pass inside the opened pliers 5, without generating mutual destructive interferences.

[0020] The Figures show a preferred practical embodiment of the pliers 3, 5 of the device 1 of the invention; in them, each arm 7, 9 and 11, 13 of each pair of pliers 3, 5 is equipped with at least one linkage 15, 17 and 19, 21 that is shaped and realised so that the arm itself exerts when closing an enough force to perform the heat-sealing and cutting of the plastic films 2, and the dragging of products 4 when they are advancing.

[0021] The dragging of products 4 when they are advancing is performed through at least one continuous belt 23 moving around at least one pair of idle rollers 25, 27 and handled by the pliers 3, 5 connected to handling means 29, 31, 33. The belt 23 is preferably made of silicone rubber (or another heat-sealing sensitive device), in order to guarantee on one hand to better grasp the products 4 that are placed thereon and dragged for advancing them, and on the other hand a better grasping surface as regards the pliers 3, 5 that must grasp and drag the belt itself. The belt is preferably formed of bands, in order to facilitate its insertion on the end roller 27, where the products 4 come out, since the end roller 27 is composed of disks (not shown) made of sheet and interposed between the different bands and that project from the band 23 for a certain height that is compatible with the required use. Purpose of such disk projection from the bands of the conveyor belt 23 is lifting or detaching the product 4 from the belt 23 if, during the previous sealing, the plastic film had remained attached to the belt 23 itself.

[0022] In particular, the handling means 29, 31 of the device are composed of a motored speed variator 29 with related speed reducer 31 and of a regulator 33, that can be of the automatic or manual type, to allow, as will be better described below, adjusting the speed of the belt 23 according to the type of product 4 to be packaged and handled.

[0023] The above-described device 1 of the invention can be optimally used in a complete system 50 for automatically continuously packaging products 4 through heat-sealed plastic films 2, such system 50 being also part of the present invention. Such system 50 first comprises, following a succession arranged along the advancement direction of the products 4, inserting means for the products 4 into the system. Such inserting means are not shown since they are known, and they can be automatic feeders or can exploit the manual supply of an operator.

[0024] The system 50 further comprises means 52 for the timed supply of the products 4, that are composed of chain-like means 70 supplied by a main motor 100 and wound as a ring around a plurality of rollers 72, 74, 76, 78; on the chain-like means 70 a plurality of pushing pawls 82 are arranged and are adapted to assume a straight operating position for pushing the products 4 and a bent rest position.

[0025] The system 50 then comprises means 54 for applying the plastic film 2 to the products 4, that are composed of bending means 84 for the film 2, unwinding means 86 for the film 2 and a bobbin 88 around which the film 2 is wound. The film 2 taken from the bobbin 88 is unwound by the means 84 and is made pass into the bending means 84, inside which the product 4 is placed being pushed by the timed supply means 52. Since the means 54 are placed immediately downstream of the timed supply means 52 and immediately upstream of the belt 23, when the product 4 has left the means 52 it has already been engaged by the belt 23 and goes on being fed forwards, usually with a speed of the belt 23 that is lower than the speed of the upstream means 52.

[0026] Immediately after the means 54 for applying the plastic film 2, then, at least one device 1 of the invention, as described above, is placed that performs the heat-sealing operation of the film 2 around the product 4 and its related cutting.

[0027] Finally, the system 50, downstream of the device 1, provides means for unloading and/or collecting the products 4 packaged with the now heat-sealed plastic films 2. Also these means for unloading and/or collecting are not shown since they are known, and can be of the manual or automatic type, such as for example an automatic stacking line or a line for the further downstream transport of the packaged products 4.

[0028] In order to effectively operate with products 4 of any size, the system 50 is further equipped with means for performing the operating timing between the products 4 and the pliers 3, 5 of the device 1 and with means for adjusting the working useful length of the device 1 itself.

[0029] The means for performing the operating timing are composed of a pulse counter 58 operatively connected to sensor means 60 in order to receive a count starting pulse; the pulse counter 58 sends, at the end of a certain count, a closure command to the one of the pliers 3, 5 that is in the operating position to perform heat-sealing and cutting.

[0030] Instead, the means for adjusting the working useful length of the device 1 are adapted to operate by exploiting the speed difference between the continuous belt 23 and the means 52 for the timed supply of the products 4. This is manually or automatically made through the regulator 33, that allows (according to the overall sizes of the products 4) changing the movement speed of the pliers 3, 5 through its connection to the motor speed variator 29 with related speed reducer 31.

[0031] As can be seen in the Figures, finally, for a better global economy and functionality, the system 50 is wholly handled by a single main motor 100 that directly supplies the means 52 for the timed supply of the products 4 and, through a shaft 101 equipped with electromagnetic pulleys, also the device 1.

[0032] The operation of the device 1 according to the present invention will now be described.

[0033] The graphic product 4 is first manually placed on an horizontal feeder, or through an automatic feeder. In such a way, with the continuous forward translation movement, the feeder allows the continuous insertion into the system of the graphic product 4 through the thrust pawls 82 hinged to the chain 70. The pawl 82 disengages the product 4 when this one has already been “grasped” and moved, taking it forwards, by the means 54.

[0034] After the means 54 have placed, in a known way, the plastic film 2 around the product 4, this latter one is dragged, transversally sealed and cut at its two ends in order to complete its packaging. Such operations are performed by the pliers 3, 5 of the device 1, with the pliers 3, 5 that alternately translate on the guides 3′, 5′, wherein the translation along the advancement direction of the product 4 is performed by suitable electromagnetic inserts (not shown) placed on the transmission shaft, while the backward translation occurs through the pneumatic pistons 6. The pliers 3, 5 are controlled through common control means, for example of the PLC type. After having heat-sealed and cut the first end of the product 4, the affected pliers make also advance both the product 4 and the belt 23 on which it rests and that idly rotates on the rollers 25, 27. Simultaneously, when the affected pliers begin advancing, through a microswitch (not shown) placed on the pliers themselves, an electric command is transmitted that disconnects the belt transmission to the other pliers, that are pushed by the piston 6 into their starting working position, where they remain waiting for the following product 4: when this latter one comes in position, the second pliers heat-seal and cut the film 2 in a position that is at the same time the second end of the product 4 that has passed immediately beforehand and the first end of the following product 4 that came in that position.

[0035] In a known way, the speed adjustment for the means 52 occurs through a potentiometer (not shown) that, through an inverter (frequency converter), operates on the main motor 100. The belt 23 instead, though taking the motion derived from the main motor 100, as already stated, can change its movement through the regulator 33 that operates on the speed variator 29.

[0036] Summarising, the device 1 and the system 50 allow realising a process for automatically continuously packaging products 4 through heat-sealed plastic films 2 comprising the steps of:

[0037] inserting the products 4;

[0038] supplying the products 4 downstream in a timed way and along an horizontal direction;

[0039] applying the plastic film 2 to the products 4;

[0040] heat-sealing and cutting a first end of each one of the products 4;

[0041] simultaneously with the step of heat-sealing and cutting a first end, advancing each one of the products 4 horizontally;

[0042] heat-sealing and cutting a second end of each one of the products 4;

[0043] simultaneously with the step of heat-sealing and cutting a second end, advancing each one of the products 4 horizontally; and

[0044] collecting and unloading each one of the heat-sealed products 4.

[0045] Moreover, the process that can be realised with the above-described system 50 and device 1 comprises the step of operatively timing the steps of timed supplying and heat-sealing and cutting of a first end of each one of the products 4. Such step of operatively timing comprises the steps of:

[0046] detecting a movement speed of the timed supplying step;

[0047] activating the counting means 58 according to the detected speed of the timed supplying step; and

[0048] performing the step of heat-sealing and cutting the first end after the counting means 58 have reached a certain count depending on the overall sizes of the products 4.

[0049] Finally, the inventive process also comprises the step of adjusting a working length for sealing and advancing the products 4 according to their overall sizes, that is performed by exploiting the difference between a speed of the timed supplying step and an advancement speed of the products 4 when heat-sealing.

[0050] In this way, a continuous and automatic cycle is obtained for packaging products into transparent heat-sealable plastic films, with the simultaneous translation of the products between the loading and unloading positions of the system, and the following working sites downstream of the system itself.

[0051] Some preferred embodiment of the present invention have been shown and described above: obviously, numerous variations and modifications, that are functionally equivalent to the previous ones, will immediately appear evident for the skilled people in the art, such variations and modifications falling within the scope of the invention as claimed in the enclosed claims. 

1. Process for automatically continuously packaging products (4) through heat-sealed plastic films (2) comprising the steps of: inserting the products (4); supplying the products (4) downstream in a timed way and along an horizontal direction; applying a plastic film (2) to the products (4); heat-sealing and cutting a first end of each one of the products (4); simultaneously with the step of heat-sealing and cutting a first end, advancing each one of the products (4) horizontally; heat-sealing and cutting a second end of each one of the products (4); simultaneously with the step of heat-sealing and cutting a second end, advancing each one of the products (4) horizontally; and collecting and unloading each one of the heat-sealed products (4).
 2. Process according to claim 1, further comprising the step of operatively timing said steps of timed supplying and heat-sealing and cutting of a first end of each one of the products (4).
 3. Process according to claim 2, wherein said step of operatively timing comprises the steps of: detecting a movement speed of said timed supplying step; activating counting means (58) according to the detected speed of the timed supplying step; and performing said step of heat-sealing and cutting the first end after said counting means (58) have reached a certain count depending on the overall sizes of the products (4).
 4. Process according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising the step of adjusting a working length for sealing and advancing the products (4) according to their overall sizes.
 5. Process according to claim 4, wherein said step of adjusting the working length for sealing and advancing is performed by exploiting the difference between a speed of said timed supplying step and an advancement speed of the products (4) when heat-sealing.
 6. Process according to any one of the previous claims, characterised in that said products (4) are graphic products, such as magazines, printed matters, fascicles, newspapers, texts, books, etc. with different formats.
 7. Device (1) for automatically continuously packaging products (4) through heat-sealed plastic films (2), characterised in that it comprises at least a pair of pliers (3, 5) reciprocatingly moving in parallel with an advancement direction of the products (4), each pliers (3, 5) being composed of at least two mutually integral arms (7, 9; 11, 13), each of said pairs of arms (7, 9; 11, 13) of each pliers (3, 5) being adapted to assume an opening position and a closing position in which the film (2) is heat-sealed and cut onto the products (4) and the products (4) are dragged, each one of said pliers (3, 5) being shaped so that, when they are in their closing position, are adapted to penetrate into a clearance obtained between the other arms (11, 13; 7, 9) of another of said pliers (5, 3) that are in their opening position. in that the arms (7, 9; 11, 13) of each one of said pliers (3, 5) are shaped as a chute when seen along a side view thereof.
 9. Device (1) according to claim 7, characterised in that first pliers (3, 5) of every pair of pliers (3, 5) are operating in order to assume an opposite position with respect to the one assumed by second pliers (5, 3) of every pair of pliers (3, 5).
 10. Device (1) according to claim 9, characterised in that the two pliers (3, 5) are movable along respective guides (3′, 5′) and are displaceable in a starting position for a first heat-sealing and cutting through a pneumatic piston (6).
 11. Device (1) according to claim 7, characterised in that each arm (7, 9; 11, 13) of each pair of pliers (3, 5) is equipped with at least one linkage (15, 17; 19, 21) adapted to make the arm (7, 9; 11, 13) exert when closing an enough force to perform the heat-sealing and cutting of plastic films (2) and the dragging of products (4) when they are advancing.
 12. Device (1) according to claim 11, characterised in that the dragging of products (4) when they are advancing is performed through at least one continuous belt (23) moving around at least one pair of idle rollers (25, 27) and handled by said pliers (3, 5) connected to handling means (29, 31, 33), said continuous belt (23) having placed thereon the products (4) and being adapted to be grasped by said pliers (3, 5) and dragged together with them along an advancement direction of the products (4).
 13. Device (1) according to claim 12, characterised in that said handling means (29, 31) are composed of a motor speed variator (29) with related speed reducer (31) and of a regulator (33).
 14. Device (1) according to claim 12, characterised in that said continuous belt (23) is made of silicone rubber or of a heat-sealing-resistent material.
 15. Device (1) according to any one of claims 7 to 14, characterised in that said products (4) are graphic products, such as magazines, printed matters, fascicles, newspapers, texts, books, etc. with different formats.
 16. System (50) for automatically continuously packaging products (4) through heat-sealed plastic films (2), characterised in that it comprises, in succession: inserting means for the products (4); means (52) for the timed supply of the products (4); means (54) for applying a plastic film (2) to the products (4); at least one device (1) according to any one of claims 7 to 15; means for performing the operating timing between the products (4) and the pliers (3, 5) of said device (1); means for adjusting the working useful length of said device (1); and means for unloading and/or collecting the products (4) packaged with heat-sealed plastic films (2).
 17. System (50) according to claim 16, characterised in that said means for performing the operating timing are composed of a pulse counter (58) operatively connected to sensor means (60) in order to receive a count starting pulse, said pulse counter (58) sending at the end of a certain count a closure command to the one of said pliers (3, 5) that are in their operating position to perform heat-sealing and cutting.
 18. System (50) according to claim 16, characterised in that said means for adjusting the working useful length of said device (1) are adapted to operate by exploiting the speed difference between said at least one continuous belt (23) and said means (52) for the timed supply of the products (4).
 19. System (50) according to claim 16, characterised in that said means for adjusting the working useful length of said device (1) are composed of said regulator (33) connected to said motor speed variator (29) with said speed reducer (31).
 20. System (50) according to claim 19, characterised in that said regulator (33) is adapted to be manually operated according to the overall sizes of the products (4).
 21. System (50) according to claim 16, characterised in that said system (50) is wholly handled by a single main motor (100) that directly supplies said means (52) for the timed supply of the products (4) and, through a shaft (101), said device.
 22. System (50) according to claim 16, characterised in that said means (52) for the timed supply of the products (4) are composed of chain-like means (70) supplied by said main motor (100) and wound as a ring around a plurality of rollers (72, 74, 76, 78) on said chain-like means (70) being arranged a plurality of pushing pawls (82) adapted to assume a straight operating position for pushing the products (4) and a bent rest position.
 23. System (50) according to claim 16, characterised in that said means (54) for applying the plastic film (2) to the products (4) are composed of bending means (84) for the film (2), unwinding means (86) for the film (2) and a bobbin (88) around which the film (2) is wound.
 24. System (50) according to claim 16, characterised in that said inserting means for the products (4) are of a manual type.
 25. System (50) according to claim 16, characterised in that said inserting means for the products (4) are of an automatic type.
 26. System (50) according to claim 16, characterised in that said means for unloading and/or collecting the products (4) are of a manual type.
 27. System (50) according to claim 16, characterised in that said means for unloading and/or collecting the products (4) are of an automatic type.
 28. System (50) according to any one of claims 16 to 27, characterised in that said products (4) are graphic products, such as magazines, printed matters, fascicles, newspapers, texts, books, etc. with different formats. 